The Cyber Talent Series

Cybersecurity talent management is nuanced. Traditional best practices around hiring, onboarding and professional development may not translate effectively into the security domain. The best people in cybersecurity are particularly adept at assessing, measuring, and managing security professionals.Join Thomas Rogers, Co-Founder of SkillBit, and co-host Phoebe DeVito as they connect with Alex Collison, Director of Information Security, Surface Area Management at Cargill, to discuss leading across vulnerability management, threat intelligence, and offensive security. Alex shares how she empowers her teams with autonomy and clear outcomes, and why leaning into discomfort is critical for growth. She also offers her perspective on upskilling through hands-on experience and navigating the security landscape influenced by the evolution of AI.

Cybersecurity talent management is nuanced. Traditional best practices around hiring, onboarding and professional development may not translate effectively into the security domain. The best people in cybersecurity are particularly adept at assessing, measuring, and managing security professionals.Join Thomas Rogers, Co-Founder of SkillBit (formerly MetaCTF), and co-host Phoebe DeVito as they connect with Jose Ramos, Head of Offensive Security at Uber, to discuss transitioning from hands-on technical roles into leadership. Jose shares his approach for mentoring talent, understanding burnouts, and knowing when to hire. He also shares his perspective on how to balance build vs. buy decisions in a rapidly evolving landscape shaped by AI and new security tools. Throughout the episode, Jose reflects on the importance of resilience, continuous learning, and embracing failure as a foundation for long-term growth.

Join co-host Phoebe DeVito as she turns the microphone on fellow co-host Thomas Rogers to discuss MetaCTF's transition to SkillBit. Thomas shares the origins of MetaCTF, the philosophy behind hands-on CTF-based learning, and how that foundation evolved into a broader platform for cybersecurity skill development that's better captured with the name, SkillBit. They also explore the vision behind SkillBit’s bite-sized training model, the role of AI in guiding skill development, and how organizations can better measure and grow cybersecurity talent.

Cybersecurity talent management is nuanced. Traditional best practices around hiring, onboarding and professional development may not translate effectively into the security domain. The best people in cybersecurity are particularly adept at assessing, measuring, and managing security professionals.Join Thomas Rogers, Co-Founder of SkillBit (formerly MetaCTF), and co-host Phoebe DeVito as they speak with Joe McCallister, Senior Manager of Cybersecurity at The Trade Desk, about building and leading modern cybersecurity teams. Joe shares his unconventional path from retail and sales into cybersecurity leadership and how those early experiences shaped his approach to hiring, mentoring, and developing talent. The conversation explores why curiosity and community are critical traits in cybersecurity and how managers can evaluate these traits in candidates when building teams. Joe emphasizes the importance of psychological safety to allow for open lines of communication to avoid burnout and encourage collaborative conversations about career growth. Joe reflects on transitioning from an individual contributor to a leader and the importance of "letting go" and trusting your team to take on new opportunities.

Cybersecurity talent management is nuanced. Traditional best practices around hiring, onboarding and professional development may not translate effectively into the security domain. The best people in cybersecurity are particularly adept at assessing, measuring, and managing security professionals.Join Thomas Rogers, Co-Founder of SkillBit (formerly MetaCTF), and co-host Phoebe DeVito as they connect with Kevin Woods, Director of Learning and Development at GuidePoint Security. In this episode, Kevin shares his perspective on bridging the cyber skills gap by building scalable training programs and creating structured yet flexible learning pathways. Kevin discusses the importance of being disciplined and proactive to building a cybersecurity career. The episode also explores how organizations can invest in entry-level talent and design learning programs that drive retention and long-term success in the industry.

Cybersecurity talent management is nuanced. Traditional best practices around hiring, onboarding and professional development may not translate effectively into the security domain. The best people in cybersecurity are particularly adept at assessing, measuring, and managing security professionals.Join Thomas Rogers, Co-Founder of MetaCTF, and co-host Phoebe DeVito as they connect with Antoinette Stevens, Principal Security Engineer at Ramp, to discuss growing detection and response teams, transitioning into people leadership while staying hands-on, and hiring for humility and curiosity. Antoinette also shares how she approaches build vs. buy decisions, and why mastering the fundamentals matters before layering in AI-driven capabilities.

Cybersecurity talent management is nuanced. Traditional best practices around hiring, onboarding and professional development may not translate effectively into the security domain. The best people in cybersecurity are particularly adept at assessing, measuring, and managing security professionals.Join Thomas Rogers, Co-Founder of MetaCTF, and co-host Phoebe DeVito as they chat with cybersecurity industry veteran, Rob "mubix" Fuller. Rob shares the importance of establishing interview rubrics and tips on transitioning into a leadership role as someone who also loves being "hands-on-keyboard". Their conversation also explores mentorship, community involvement, and why curiosity and humility remain essential at every stage of a cyber career.

Cybersecurity talent management is nuanced. Traditional best practices around hiring, onboarding and professional development may not translate effectively into the security domain. The best people in cybersecurity are particularly adept at assessing, measuring, and managing security professionals.Join Thomas Rogers, Co-Founder of MetaCTF, and co-host Phoebe DeVito as they connect with Mike Takahashi, Director of Security Engineering at BetterHelp and AI Red Teamer. On this episode, they discuss hiring for real-world skills, building teams grounded in curiosity, and developing talent through autonomy and trust. He shares insights on AI security and the risks and opportunities of agent-based models. Although credentials are important, Mike explains why hacking, building, and experimenting matter even more in the age of AI.

Cybersecurity talent management is nuanced. Traditional best practices around hiring, onboarding and professional development may not translate effectively into the security domain. The best people in cybersecurity are particularly adept at assessing, measuring, and managing security professionals.Join Thomas Rogers, Co-Founder of MetaCTF, and Chitra Dharmarajan, VP of Security and Privacy Engineering at Okta, as they discuss building balanced, collaborative, and adaptable security teams. Chitra shares her journey going from developer to security executive, the importance of soft skills in technical roles, and why diverse skill sets are key to scaling security programs. She also explores how AI is reshaping the workforce, from accelerating upskilling to redefining what it means to be “junior” in cybersecurity.

Cybersecurity talent management is nuanced. Traditional best practices around hiring, onboarding and professional development may not translate effectively into the security domain. The best people in cybersecurity are particularly adept at assessing, measuring, and managing security professionals.Join Thomas Rogers, Co-Founder of MetaCTF, co-host Phoebe DeVito, and guest Chris Haller, Principal Security Consultant at Omada Technologies, as they discuss how hands-on learning builds stronger cybersecurity professionals. Chris shares lessons from his time in the Navy and as a coach for the U.S. Cyber Team, exploring how CTFs develop problem-solving, communication, and confidence in technical environments. He also offers advice for aspiring mentors, leaders, and practitioners on bridging the gap between classroom knowledge and real-world readiness.

Cybersecurity talent management is nuanced. Traditional best practices around hiring, onboarding and professional development may not translate effectively into the security domain. The best people in cybersecurity are particularly adept at assessing, measuring, and managing security professionals.Join Thomas Rogers, Co-Founder of MetaCTF, and Adrian Guevara, CISO and Head of IT for TELUS Digital Solutions, as they discuss how to build trust and alignment during times of change. Adrian shares his journey from individual contributor to CISO and the lessons he learned about people development through mentorship. He also offers his perspective on leading adaptable, high-performing teams amid the rapid rise of AI.

Cybersecurity talent management is nuanced. Traditional best practices around hiring, onboarding and professional development may not translate effectively into the security domain. The best people in cybersecurity are particularly adept at assessing, measuring, and managing security professionals.Join Thomas Rogers, Co-Founder of MetaCTF and co-host Phoebe DeVito as they connect with Emily Long, Founder and CEO of Edera, to explore how to build curious, connected, and high-performing teams. Emily shares her journey from people operations to the C-suite in cybersecurity, and challenges the notion of what it means to be “non-technical.” She also offers her framework for cultivating teams grounded in respect, cohesion, and creativity.

Cybersecurity talent management is nuanced. Traditional best practices around hiring, onboarding and professional development may not translate effectively into the security domain. The best people in cybersecurity are particularly adept at assessing, measuring, and managing security professionals.Join Thomas Rogers, Co-Founder of MetaCTF, co-host Phoebe DeVito, and guest Dustin Lehr, Application Security Advocate at Security Journey, Co-Founder of Katilyst and AppSec Consultant, as they discuss career growth to leadership in cyber. From going deep early in your career to building effective security champion programs, Dustin shares lessons on security culture change, what AI means for big and small companies, and how great managers turn curiosity into impact.

Cybersecurity talent management is nuanced. Traditional best practices around hiring, onboarding and professional development may not translate effectively into the security domain. The best people in cybersecurity are particularly adept at assessing, measuring, and managing security professionals.Join Thomas Rogers, Co-Founder of MetaCTF, co-host Phoebe DeVito, and guests Justin Marciano and Paul Vann, Co-Founders of Validia, as they discuss the rise of deepfake-enabled hiring fraud and shortcomings of background checks. They dive deeper into the strong need for appropriate tooling to enable HR in deepfake detection, and why identity verification needs to be a continuous practice in today's workforce.

Cybersecurity talent management is nuanced. Traditional best practices around hiring, onboarding and professional development may not translate effectively into the security domain. The best people in cybersecurity are particularly adept at assessing, measuring, and managing security professionals.Co-hosts Thomas Rogers, Co-Founder of MetaCTF, and Phoebe DeVito are joined by Rear Admiral John Mauger to discuss the unique stakes of maritime cybersecurity, the rise of ransomware at sea, and what AI means for the next generation of cyber talent. Tune in to hear more about the role of leadership in supporting team dynamics, the importance of owning your mission, and building effective infrastructure to assess teams.

Cybersecurity talent management is nuanced. Traditional best practices around hiring, onboarding and professional development may not translate effectively into the security domain. The best people in cybersecurity are particularly adept at assessing, measuring, and managing security professionals. Join Thomas Rogers, Co-Founder of MetaCTF, co-host Phoebe DeVito, and guest Nick Berrie, Managing Director of Offensive Security Operations at Assura, as they discuss career development in offensive security, the true value of certifications, and why leaders have a duty to “hold the ladder down” for the next generation of cyber talent.

Cybersecurity talent management is nuanced. Traditional best practices around hiring, onboarding and professional development may not translate effectively into the security domain. The best people in cybersecurity are particularly adept at assessing, measuring, and managing security professionals.Join Thomas Rogers, Co-Founder of MetaCTF, co-host Phoebe DeVito, and guest Brandon Baxter, Senior Lab Architect at Wiz, as they discuss the role of tools in building a career in cybersecurity. Brandon shares his experience going from practitioner to the vendor-side, and his predictions on how AI will impact security talent going forward.

Cybersecurity talent management is nuanced. Traditional best practices around hiring, onboarding and professional development may not translate effectively into the security domain. The best people in cybersecurity are particularly adept at assessing, measuring, and managing security professionals. Join Thomas Rogers, Co-Founder of MetaCTF, and co-host Phoebe DeVito, as they discuss current trends in cybersecurity talent management, why “skill development” vs. “training” is an important distinction, and best practices around employee engagement.